Hamilton politicians will grapple with some awfully large challenges in 2016 — but if they succeed in these areas, the payoff will be even bigger.

The biggest infrastructure project in city history. The potential loss of a defining Hamilton industrial employer. The radical makeover of the west harbour waterfront.

Both the dollars and stakes involved are mind-boggling — so expect residents to play a vocal role in how their elected representatives respond to the transformative changes and challenges.

Here's a list of six big issues on the table for local politicians and residents in 2016.

U.S. Steel

The future of the former Stelco and its 328 hectares of underutilized harbour lands remains a top worry for Hamilton residents and politicians. U.S. Steel Canada continues to operate under court-ordered creditor protection as it seeks to restructure, but an effort to sell part or all of its facilities in Ontario failed earlier this year.

The American parent company will also seek approval of $2.2 billion in debt claims against U.S. Steel Canada in court hearings in January. A new sale effort is also expected to begin in May.

The city has no control over the process, but is scrambling to find ways to help retirees in danger of losing pension and health benefits as well as planning for potential post-steel land uses on the harbour.

"All we can do as a city is use moral suasion, help mitigate the impacts on pensioners and try to make the best of a worst-case scenario … The province and federal governments absolutely have to come to the plate."

— Coun. Sam Merulla, vice-chair, Hamilton steel committee

LRT

We've got the money, but the ride to light rail transit will be bumpy. The province announced $1 billion in May to build an LRT line from McMaster University to the Queenston traffic circle, with a short spur line to the James Street GO Station.

Now the nitty-gritty planning begins, including public consultation and finishing design studies in 2016 for the new spur line and a required maintenance facility.

City manager Chris Murray has admitted the project faces an "aggressive" schedule if construction is to begin by 2019, as hoped. Councillors need to sign off soon on an early memorandum of agreement with Metrolinx to keep things rolling.

"Clearly, as we look to meet our timelines to secure procurement in 2017, we have a great deal to achieve in 2016 … (but) I believe that as this transformational urban and transit development moves forward, it will collect steam."

Hamilton is ramping up grand plans for the west harbour in 2016. Tens of millions of dollars will be spent upgrading marina docks and pier walls, with major underground servicing work to follow for a hoped-for 1,600-unit development on Piers 7 and 8.

But not everyone is happy with the early glimpse provided of redeveloped waterfront, with some arguing for a greater emphasis on public space. In the meantime, it's possible the timeline to market the land to developers could be moved up to 2016.

"This (pier redevelopment) is an exciting and long overdue first step for an important urban regeneration opportunity about 18 years in the making."

— Architect Bill Curran

Transportation master plan review

Don't let the boring bureaucratic title fool you — the results of this study are guaranteed to create political fireworks. Two-way traffic conversions, complete streets, a gondola up the Mountain — it's all up for debate through this long-awaited update on how Hamiltonians should move around the city.

Recent pedestrian and cyclist fatalities have amped up the volume of the debate. But some councillors are concerned about making too many changes to lower city streets with construction looming on LRT along the city's busiest artery.

"For me, the big issue to watch will be the intersection of the Transportation Master Plan review, LRT planning, the burgeoning "Vision Zero" movement for safer streets by design and the steadily growing case for complete streets that serve everyone's needs."

— Ryan McGreal, editor, Raise the Hammer

Affordable housing

Everyone hopes this is a big year for social housing in Hamilton, where 6,000 people sit on a waiting list for an affordable place to live.

Councillors recently batched together to find $1 million in area rating cash to put toward repairs to damaged CityHousing Hamilton units in the new year. City staff will also report back on ways to leverage underused parking lots and planned west harbour development into new cash for social housing.

"This government made some pretty big promises on infrastructure generally during the election. We're waiting to see if they can deliver — but frankly, anything more than we received from the previous government would be a blessing."

— Chad Collins, board chair, CityHousing Hamilton

Police chief

Chief Glenn De Caire surprised his police board — and just about everyone else — with a December announcement that he will retire in January and join McMaster University as head of security and parking. The news came just weeks after the board extended the chief's contract by two years.

Hey somethings wrong here. Where are the self appointed lrt lobbyists to defend this colossal waste of money? Maybe they are away for the holidays. They usually jump on any negative comments immediately citing all kinds of studies and lecturing the unwashed masses.

Attracting BIG business should be a major issue to relieve some of the enormous property taxes homeowners have to pay. There's a huge industrial park up in Glanbrook just waiting for more tenants and a waterfront that is years behind. Big taxes indicate major mistakes have been made and higher they will go...the sky's the limit!

The City's $2 billion infrastructure deficit doesn't make the list? Seriously? Not surprising as there's been no columnist angst, editorials, editorial cartoons, 'polls', or even, wait for it, reporting on it. All of council is getting a pass on it. Why?